Phenoxypyrazole composition and process for the solvent extraction of metals

Abstract

A metal extractant comprising Formula (1) wherein R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 each independently are hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, an electron withdrawing group, an electron donating group, or one or more of R 5 & R 6 , R 6 & R 7 , R 7 & R 8 are linked in such way as to form an optionally substituted ring; Y is N or CR 9 wherein R 9 is hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxy, optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl, optionally substituted hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group, optionally substituted optionally substituted mono or dihydrocarbylaminocarbonyl group; Z is N or CR 10 wherein R 10 is hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxy, optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl, optionally substituted hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group, optionally substituted optionally substituted mono or dihydrocarbylaminocarbonyl group; and tautomers or salts thereof, with the proviso that both Y and Z could be N provided that no more than one of Y or Z is N.

1. A metal extractant compound according to Formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 7  is chosen from: a C 9 -C 15  hydrocarbyl; and isomers thereof; and R 10  is chosen from: a C 1 -C 15  hydrocarbyl; and isomers thereof. 
     
     
       2. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 1 , wherein each of R 7  and R 10  is independently chosen from: a C 9 -C 15  hydrocarbyl group; and isomers thereof. 
     
     
       3. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 2 , wherein each of R 7  and R 10  is independently chosen from an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of: nonyl; hexylnonyl; butylnonyl; dodecyl; and isomers thereof. 
     
     
       4. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 3 , wherein R 7  and R 10  are both nonyl, or isomers thereof. 
     
     
       5. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 1 , wherein R 7  is chosen from: nonyl; and isomers thereof; and R 10  is chosen from: a C 1 - C 8  alkyl group; and isomers thereof. 
     
     
       6. A solvent extractant composition comprising:
 a) a water immiscible organic solvent; and 
 b) a metal extractant compound according to Formula 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 7  is chosen from: a C 9 -C 15  hydrocarbyl; and isomers thereof; and R 10  is chosen from: a C 1 -C 15  hydrocarbyl; and isomers thereof. 
     
     
       7. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the metal extractant compound is present in an amount of from 1% to 60% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
       8. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the metal extractant compound is present in an amount of from 5% to 40% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
       9. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the metal extractant compound is present in an amount of from 7.5% to 20% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
       10. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon content of the organic solvent is less than 30% w/w, less than 23% w/w, less than 5% w/w, or less than 1% w/w. 
     
     
       11. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 c) a modifier or kinetic booster compound having a functional group chosen from: alcohols; esters; ethers; polyethers; carbonates; ketones; nitriles; amides; carbamates; sulphoxides; acids of sulphur and phosphorous compounds; tributylphosphate; and salts of amines and quaternary ammounium compounds. 
 
     
     
       12. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the functional group is an alcohol chosen from alkanols of 6 to 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       13. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the functional group is an ester chosen from alkyl esters of 7 to 30 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       14. A solvent extractant composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the metal extractant compound is chosen from: 4-nonyl-2-(5-nonyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-phenol; 2-(5-(1-hexylnonyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-phenol; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       15. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 5 , wherein R 10  is methyl, or an isomer thereof. 
     
     
       16. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 5 , wherein R 10  is ethyl, or an isomer thereof. 
     
     
       17. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 5 , wherein R 10  is propyl, or an isomer thereof. 
     
     
       18. A metal extractant compound according to  claim 5 , wherein R 10  is butyl, or an isomer thereof.